Manager
Louie Ward
Co-Op Editor
Kevin Hand
ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to
some 420,000 Alabama families and
businesses, which are members of
22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned,
locally directed and taxpaying electric
cooperatives. Subscriptions are $6 a
year for individuals not subscribing
through participating Alabama electric
cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS
029-920) is published monthly by the
Alabama Rural Electric Association
of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage
paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at
additional mailing office.

Broilers feed top ag industry

Thousands of Alabama farm families raise poultry,
helping push the state to its number 2 ranking
nationally in U.S. broiler production.

To pay your bill
online: Go to
www.trec.coop
and click
“Payment Options.”
Save time and
money!
In case of
POWER OUTAGES
day or night CALL...
1-877-456-8732

4 AUGUST 2017

Weather the Storm
Louie Ward
Manager of Tallapoosa River EC

We have had small storm systems pass
through our area this year. As they pass
through they have brought high winds,
heavy rain and, of course, lightning. Each
one has caused what we refer to as localized power outages. As you endure these
events, sometimes we are fortunate and
only have to remove a tree limb and either reset a breaker or install a new fuse.
When the repair is this simple, we are
able to restore your power quickly. We
like this as much as you do. Any time
you spend without electricity is time you
think about how we here at your Cooperative could do a better job. However,
there are times when we arrive to the
cause of a power outage and a huge tree
has fallen. When large trees fall, they often break more than just wire. Such times
are when we spend several hours working
to restore your power. At the moment it
may not seem this way, but please understand we know you are frustrated. Your
life has been interrupted and you feel like
we are to blame. Please know that the
Cooperative’s employees take great pride
in their jobs. They take pride in working safely and diligently. They don’t like
working through the night any more than
you don’t like being without electricity
through the night.
Our call reporting system can handle
almost 100 calls simultaneously. You
know we can’t aﬀord to keep 100 people
on standby ready to answer the phone 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, so we have a
computer available to handle such large
call volumes. This system works by recognizing the phone number you are calling
from and it “searches” phone numbers we
have on file for our member’s accounts. If
the phone you are calling from is listed on
your membership account, then the system automatically tells us who needs us
to get their power restored. If the phone

number you are calling from is not associated with a membership account, then
it logs the call diﬀerently and we have to
figure out who needs electricity restored
through the message left on the recorder.
I tell you this to lead up to asking you to
please update the phone number we have
associated with your account. To do this,
just call the oﬃce and we will update your
account.
Another thought I have about these
sudden storms: They catch almost all of
us oﬀ guard. There is nothing we can do
to prevent a storm’s arrival. We should
all be prepared for them though. Have
a flashlight, extra batteries, a portable
battery pack for charging emergency cell
phones, some basic food, and of course
some water. Additionally, if you have special medical needs that require electricity
such as oxygen machine, C-pap, or if you
are especially intolerant of hot weather,
have a backup plan. We can guarantee
we will get your electric service restored,
and we can guarantee we will be diligent
in doing so, but unfortunately, sometimes
there is so much damage that it just takes
time to get everyone back on.
As of this writing, we are a little spoiled.
We haven’t had a major outage event in
10 years. We have many employees who
haven’t been through a multi-day restoration eﬀort. Don’t worry though; there
are plenty of us with vivid memories of
what is required when these situations arrive and we are all dedicated to getting the
job done.
Thank you for your patience and help
when the storms pass through. Until next
month, have a good one! n

www.alabamaliving.coop

| Tallapoosa River EC |

August Announcements
Labor Day

All ofďŹ ces for TREC will be closed
Monday, September 4, 2017 in observance of Labor Day.

3 Easy & Convenient Ways to
Update your Outage Phone Number
Call Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative at
1-877-456-8732 and speak to any customer
service representative.
Send in your updated number
on your billing statement.
Update your number via the
TREC website. www.trec.coop

Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017 5

TREC 2017 Scholarship Winners
Each year TREC and the Electric Cooperative Foundation award eight $1,000 scholarships
to local high school students who are served electricity by TREC and who have demonstrated excellence in and out of the classroom.

Our eight 2017 scholarship winners

Brandon Eddy,
Auburn High School

Lindsey Guy, Horseshoe
Bend High School

Celina Feliciano
and Tiara Janado,

Russell County High School
6â&#x20AC;&#x192; AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

| Tallapoosa River EC |

Natalie Petersen,
Randolph County
High School

Donald King III,
Beulah High School

Congratulations
and good luck
from your
Tallapoosa River
Electric
Cooperative!
Lauren Melton,
Central Clay County
High School
Alabama Living

(not pictured)

Bo Scott,
Woodland High School
AUGUST 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192; 7

M Yo 2
on u 01
tg th 7
om To
u
er r
y,
AL

Earlier this year TREC sent two area
high school students, Madison Schwandt
from Glenwood School and Logan Massey
from Beauregard High School, to represent us
at the Montgomery Youth Tour.
Madison and Logan joined approximately 150 other
students from around the state for a three day tour of
Alabama’s capital city. While there they took part in team
building exercises, heard motivational speakers, participated
in question and answer sessions with elected oﬃcials and toured
many historic sites including, the Civil Rights Memorial, the Capitol,
the State House, the Department of Archives and History, the Dexter
Avenue Baptist Church, and the First White House of the Confederacy.
For more information about Tallapoosa River’s Youth Tour Program,
please contact Kevin Hand at 334-864-9331 ext. 731 or khand@trec.coop

| Alabama Snapshots |

Horsing around

Jean Young sharing a laugh with
her horse, Tylenol. SUBMITTED BY
Mary Ann Gove, Cottonwood, AZ,
Formerly of Daleville, AL

a
Our granddaughter Sar
loves the horses that live
ld
near our home in Emera
Mountain, Wetumpka,
and will stop by to greet
them whenever she
comes for a visit. I think
they like her too!
SUBMITTED BY James
Bonner, Wetumpka

Grey Wells competes in
Alabama
Junior Rodeo with his par
tner
Lefty. Lefty is a calf rop
ing horse
and the two earned the
title of Alabama Junior Rodeo Cal
f Roping
Champions for 2017! SUB
MITTED
BY Christy Wells, Ashford

Submit Your Images! October Theme: “Halloween Costumes” Deadline for October: August 31
SUBMIT PHOTOS ONLINE: www.alabamaliving.coop/submit-photo/ or send color photos with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Photos, Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124
RULES: Alabama Living will pay $10 for photos that best match our theme of the month. Photos may also be published on our
website at www.alabamaliving.coop and on our Facebook page. Alabama Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos.
Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017 9

Mike

| Power Pack |
SOCIAL SECURITY

It pays to keep a careful eye on your earnings record

W

hether you’re ready to retire, just joining the workforce, or somewhere in
between, regularly reviewing your Social
Security earnings record could make a big
difference when it’s time to collect your retirement benefits.
Just think, in some situations, if an employer did not properly report just one
year of your work earnings to us, your future benefit payments from Social Security
could be close to $100 per month less than
they should be. Over the course of a lifetime, that could cost you tens of thousands
of dollars in retirement or other benefits to
which you are entitled.
Social Security prevents many mistakes
from ever appearing on your earnings record. On average, we process about 236
million W-2 wage reports from employers,
representing more than $5 trillion in earnings. More than 98 percent of these wages
are successfully posted with little problem.
But it’s ultimately the responsibility of
your employers to provide accurate earnings information to Social Security so you
get credit for the contributions you’ve made
through payroll taxes. We rely on you to inform us of any errors or omissions. You’re

the only person who can look at your lifetime earnings record and verify that it’s
complete and correct.
So, what’s the easiest and most efficient
way to validate your earnings record?
• Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to set up or sign in to your own
my Social Security account;
• Under the “My Home” tab, click on
“Earnings Record” to view your online Social Security Statement and
taxed Social Security earnings;
• Carefully review each year of listed
earnings and use your own records,
such as W-2s and tax returns, to confirm them; and
• Keep in mind that earnings from this
year and last year may not be listed
yet.
If you notice that you need to correct
your earnings record, check out our onepage fact sheet at www.socialsecurity.gov/
pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf.
Sooner is definitely better when it comes
to identifying and reporting problems with
your earnings record. As time passes, you
may no longer have past tax documents
and some employers may no longer be in

business or able to provide past payroll information.
If it turns out everything in your earnings record is correct, you can use the information and our online calculators at
www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.html to plan for your retirement
and prepare for the unexpected, such as
becoming disabled or leaving behind survivors. We use your top 35 years of earnings
when we calculate your benefit amounts.
You can learn more about how your benefit
amount is calculated at www.socialsecurity.
gov/pubs/10070.pdf.
We’re with you throughout life’s journey,
from starting your first job to receiving
your well-earned first retirement payment.
Learn more about the services we provide
online at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA
Public Affairs Specialist,
can be reached by email at
kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.

ALABAMA'S HEALTH

Expand scope of practice for nurse practitioners

T

he lack of primary care physician serthat we are experiencing the “Aging of Alvice in rural Alabama is well documentabama.” The Alabama Rural Health Assoed. Fifty-two of Alabama’s 54 rural counties
ciation conducted a study in 2009 through
are currently classified by the
which it was conservatively
Health Resources and Serestimated that there could be
vices Administration as havthe demand for an additional
ing a shortage of such physi1,785,000 office visits to prician service.
mary care physicians each
When a county or
year by 2025. This increase
sub-county area is classified
is mainly due to the aging
as a shortage area for the
of our residents and the fact
provision of primary care,
that the presence of chronic
this means that there are not
diseases increases with age.
enough primary care physiOne solution to reduce the
cians providing service for
shortage involves the use of
the area’s population to meet
nurse practitioners (and other advanced practice providthe minimal needs, much
ers) so they can practice to
less optimal needs. It is esthe full extent of their educatimated that Alabama needs
tion and training. I have visan additional approximately Misty Ralyea, CRNP, sees a
150 primary care physicians, patient in the Brookwood
ited every medical clinic in
placed where they are need- Baptist Health Primary Care
51 of our 54 rural counties to
learn more about local health
ed the most, to satisfy our Network Clinic in Lincoln in
care issues. I have seen phyminimal needs or approxi- Talladega County.
mately 450 to meet our optimal needs.
sicians and nurse practitioners working
Add to this current shortage the fact
together, giving each other needed time
10 AUGUST 2017

off from a demanding schedule, expanding clinical hours for patients who need to
be seen outside of the traditional workday,
and expanding days of clinical operation to
include weekends in many rural locations.
Alabama is still considered to be one of
the more restrictive states for the practice
of nurse practitioners. Additionally, reimbursement for nurse practitioners remains
at some of the lowest levels – as low as 70
percent of the reimbursement that a physician receives for the same service.
Alabama has many rural areas that lack
the population to attract full-time physician services. The need for local health care
is great in these areas and could be provided
by nurse practitioners (and other advanced
Continued on Page 41

Make your voice heard; vote on Aug. 15
in Co-ops Vote, a non-partisan get-out-the-vote campaign
that you read about last year in advance of the November
presidential election.
“Our vote counts in every election,” says Sean Strickler, vice
president of public affairs at AREA. “However, during a special
election like the one being held Aug. 15, our vote matters so
much more.
“These special elections historically have had extremely
low voter turnout which means every person who takes time
to go to the polling place vote has a much bigger impact. This
election will seat one of 100 senators who are widely seen as
some of the most powerful people in the world, so take time
and research who you feel will be best to represent you. Then
go vote.”

The primary election to ﬁll the U.S. Senate seat previously
held by Republican Jeff Sessions, who was conﬁrmed as U.S.
attorney general earlier this year, is coming up on Aug. 15. The
primary runoff will be Sept. 26, and the general election is
Dec. 12, 2017.
Eight Democratic candidates have ﬁled to run: Will Boyd,
Vann Caldwell, Jason E. Fisher, Michael Hansen, former U.S.
attorney Doug Jones, Robert Kennedy Jr. (no relation to the
famous political family), Brian McGee and Charles Nana.
Ten Republican candidates have ﬁled to run: Luther Strange
(the incumbent, who was appointed by former Gov. Robert
Bentley to the seat in February), James Paul Beretta, Joseph F.
Breault, Alabama Christian Coalition president Randy Brinson,
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, Dom Gentile, Mary Maxwell, suspended
Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, Bryan Peeples
and state Sen. Trip Pittman.
The Alabama Rural Electric Association, which publishes
Alabama Living, encourages voters to make their voices heard
and help tackle the decline in rural voting. AREA participates

This month in

Alabama history

Whereville, AL

August 27, 1950
The New York Yankees honored sportscaster
Mel Allen with “Mel Allen Day” at Yankee
Stadium. Born in Johns, Alabama, Allen
became one of the most recognizable voices
in sportscasting during his 25-year tenure
as the “Voice of the New York Yankees.” He
is best remembered for creating several
notable catchphrases, including “how about
that!” and “going, going, gone!” Allen later
hosted the hit television show “This Week in
Baseball” from 1977 to 1996. He was one of
the ﬁrst two winners of the Baseball Hall of
Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting
and was inducted into the National Radio
Hall of Fame.
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/
article/h-1244

Alabama Living

Guess where this is and you might win $25!
Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at
random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualiﬁed.
Send your answer by Aug. 9 with your name, address and the name of your rural electric
cooperative. The winner and answer will be announced in the August issue.
Contribute your own photo from an upcoming issue! Send a photo of an interesting or
unusual landmark in Alabama, which must be accessible to the public. A reader whose
photo is used will also win $25.
Submit by email to whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box
244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

JULY’S ANSWER

Many historians regard Mobile’s Government Street
Presbyterian Church, a ﬁne example of Greek
Revival architecture, as one of the most beautiful
and historic in the U.S. It was founded in 1831 by the
Rev. John B. Warren with 21 members. The present
church building was completed in 1839, according
to a history on the church’s website. (Photo submitted by Elaine Hild of North Alabama EC).
The random drawing winner is Alma Knowles, Covington EC.

hether grilled or fried, wings or strips,
there’s no doubt that Alabamians cherish America’s most popular entrée —

Poultry companies supply chicks to the farmer, who feeds
and cares for the birds for about six or seven weeks.
PHOTO COURTESY ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION

chicken.
Meeting that demand is no small feat, and
thousands of Alabama farm families raise poultry. Some farmers grow pullets, or young hens, to
produce eggs for broiler, or meat-type, operations.
There are also a small number of table egg producers in the state who produce eggs for grocery
stores and restaurants. However, most Alabama
farm families grow broilers, pushing the state to
its number 2 ranking in U.S. broiler production.
One of these families, Chris and Monica
Carroll of Ozark, has been raising broilers for
17 years. While Chris is a sixth-generation cattle farmer, poultry was a new endeavor for his
family, who are members of Pea River Electric
Cooperative.
“We built four broiler houses when our daughter Brittany was
born in 2000,” Chris says. “I wanted Monica to come home to the
farm and spend time with our kids.”
Monica was no stranger to agriculture. Her interest began when
her sister brought home an animal science book in college.
“The more I learned about agriculture the more I became interested,” she says. “I asked myself why wouldn’t I want to be involved
in ag? It’s an industry that affects us every single day. That moment
marked a new beginning for me.”
Monica graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Auburn University in 1996. At Auburn, she met and
married Chris, a ’95 animal science graduate. While Chris was on
the farm, Monica worked for the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
“One day Chris started giving me hay-raking lessons, and next
thing I knew he was asking me to come home and farm,” Monica
says. “He joked that I was a harder worker than anyone he ever
hired!”
The addition of poultry houses proved successful for the Carrolls’
farm.

A $15.1 billion impact on the economy

“Diversification in agriculture is important,” Chris says. “One
year crop or cattle prices may drop or weather conditions may cause
losses. While the overhead costs were high, the steady income poultry provides has been great for our family and our business.”
Not only has poultry been positive for farmers, it has become Alabama’s No. 1 agricultural industry. Poultry has a $15.1 billion impact on the state’s economy and employs more than 86,000 people,
according to the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association (AP&EA).
The Carrolls and other chicken farmers who grow broilers partner with one of 11 broiler companies in Alabama. The commercial
poultry industry is vertically integrated – farmers grow birds on a
contract basis with a poultry company. The company supplies the
chicks to the farm, and the farmer is responsible for the feed and
care of the birds for approximately six or seven weeks. Farmers are
paid for the weight gained by the flock, which serves as an incentive to provide maximum care, according to the National Chicken
Council.
“Alabamians should feel confident in purchasing poultry products because of the ideal conditions in which we raise chickens,” said
Ray Hilburn, AP&EA associate director.
Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017 13

Chris said farmers keep the birds’ climate regulated while proI want to produce the safest food possible. This is the food I feed
viding feed and clean water.
my family. We would not grow a product that we wouldn’t eat ourselves.”
“When the chickens first come to us, the florescent lights in the
By the year 2050, farmers will need to produce enough food to
houses are extremely bright and the temperature is around 90 defeed 9 billion people, according to world food experts. Hilburn
grees,” Chris says.
said poultry could play a large role in solving this challenge.
As the chickens get older, the lights are dimmed and the temperature is reduced to provide ideal growing conditions for the
“There are some people around the world who live on nothing
birds.
but beans and rice,” Hilburn says. “The demand for poultry will
Keeping up with thousands of chickens at once is demanding,
continue to increase as the middle class around the world grows
but technology has made the growing process smoother.
and the population rises. People need a safe, inexpensive protein
Even with automated fans,
to consume.”
heaters, water and feed lines, the
Chris echoed these sentiments.
farmers’ care and observation
“Poultry is a less expensive
skills play an important role.
protein source than beef or
New technologies and some
pork,” Chris says. “Poultry is a
old-fashioned tricks have allowed the Carrolls to reduce their
good fit for Alabama’s climate,
environmental impact across the
and I believe we will play a significant role in feeding the world
entire farm.
through this industry.”
Peanut hulls are readily availAlthough feeding the world
able in the booming peanut-proseems overwhelming, the future
ducing Wiregrass area, and the
for the poultry industry in AlaCarrolls recycle this material as
bedding for their poultry housbama is bright. At the beginning
es. After each flock, the Carrolls Chris and Monica Carroll and their son, Blake, on their Dale County farm. of the year, a 50,000-square-foot
PHOTO BY ELLIE ISBELL
feed mill was opened near the
place clean, dry peanut hulls on
the floors, and apply the used hulls and manure as a natural fertilOzark area. This $55 million investment created 80 new jobs at
izer for their row crops.
the plant and 165 new poultry houses will be built as a result.
The Carrolls’ son, Blake, is a rising ninth-grader at Ariton High
A safe, affordable food product is top priority
School. He plans to become a full-time farmer after attending college.
The Carrolls focus on reducing their environmental footprint
by using recycled motor oil to heat the houses.
“I know kids in Blake’s generation are unsure if they can make
“We collect used motor oil from a local trucking company, the
a living in farming,” Monica says. “I truly believe they can if they
Dale County school bus barn and an oil-change shop in town. We
use creative ways to cut input costs like we have. The population
burn the used oil through a clean-burn heater so the fumes never
is multiplying, and we need young folks to consider production
go into the chicken houses,” Chris says. “Overall, we are leaving an
agriculture to help meet the demand for safe, affordable food.”
extremely small footprint on the environment with our houses.”
In addition to full-time farming, the Carrolls are involved with
Using these methods to create a safe, affordable food product is
the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Auburn University College
the Carrolls’ No. 1 priority.
of Agriculture’s Alumni Association and advocating for agriculture at local schools. Chris also serves as the Dale County District
“Everyone who works in our chicken house has to take a test
1 Commissioner and the Dale County Farmers Federation Presfrom the poultry company regarding proper chicken care and
ident.
production,” Monica says. “I don’t mind taking these tests because

Chris Carroll is a sixthgeneration cattle farmer who
got into poultry to diversify his
family farming business.
PHOTO BY ELLIE ISBELL

Charles Walters of River Oaks Farm, now a certified organic operation, with his traveling farmer’s market. Both farmers focus on natural growing methods.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVER OAKS FARM

By M.J. Ellington

A

n Elmore County farmer said he wanted a theological reabe filtered out of the soil. “Compost is our number No. 1 thing to
son to explain his career choice, so he got a master’s degree
help build healthy soil that retains nutrients and moisture that offrom Duke Divinity School so he could explain his decision.
ten washes away from soil that is unhealthy,” he says.
In North Alabama, soil scientist Karen Wynne agrees. She puts
“I felt called to farm and I needed to have a theological basis
organic farming methods she teaches to practice in the food her
for my decision,” Charles Walters said. The son of cattle farmers
family grows on 25-acre Rosita’s Farm near Hartin Linden, Walters grew up hearing his parents
a member of Joe Wheeler EMC. Wynne
talk about the challenges of his career choice.
“The key things to make selle,
also owns Crotovina, a company that provides
Walters bought a former brick manufacturer’s worn-out clay field near the Alabama River. our soil healthy are technical assistance, planning and development
Years of clay and soil removal by the brick com- organic matter and good support to small farms across the Southeast.
At all three operations, the farmers emphapany had left the property lacking in nutrients
farming practices.”
size building the soil naturally, practicing minto support healthy plant and animal life.
Four years ago, Walters began rebuilding – Kirk Iverson, soil scientist
imal tilling and planting fill crops that nourish
the land with truckloads of ground pecan shell
the soil and retard weed growth in months between growing seasons. Their methods are tools that even people
compost, humus and manure to make the soil healthy. Now Walwith tiny backyard gardens can use to have
ters grows produce and raises cattle and chickens to sell on the 28healthy soil without artificial chemicals.
acre organic River Oaks Farm, now a certified organic operation.
Richard Dean observed small farmers’ ancient growing practicKirk Iverson, an Auburn-based soil scienes while he and his wife, Jodi, were teachers in China. Now Dean
tist who works with Auburn University and
and his business partner, Tyson Rogers, own five-acre Gold Branch
the U.S. Department of Agriculture on susFarm near Deatsville, a member of Central Alabama EC. They
tainable farming projects, said Alabama’s hot
grow lettuce and other leafy produce, vegetables and fruit trees
weather makes farming a challenge.
“The state’s intense heat can break down
with natural growing methods and no artificial chemicals.
the organic matter that is the key to healthy
Dean said Alabama farmland is often thin as a result of intense
soil,” Iverson says. “The key things to make Kirk Iverson
heat and many years of farming. It normally takes about seven
our soil healthy are organic matter and good
years with natural growing methods for the artificial chemicals to
Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017 17

farming practices. It’s also important to test the soil to know any
nutrients you may need to add.”
Both Iverson and Wynne said it’s better to do minimal tilling
instead of stripping away all spent crops or weeds from previous
growing seasons, and to mulch or plant cover crops. Minimal tilling helps vegetation decompose naturally between growing seasons while fill crops hold moisture and nutrients and reduce erosion, they said.
Wynne says soil is “the earth’s natural carbon dioxide filtration
system, it feeds us and it can help mitigate climate change. We need
to look at long-term soil sustainability.”
In town, Wynne says property owners can have healthier soil by
setting the lawn mower to cut the grass a little higher, and planting
low-growing plants that will help keep nutrients in the soil.
The farmers from Gold Branch and River Oaks sell what they
grow at local farmers markets, helping to meet a growing consumer demand for food grown locally.
U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show that the number of
farmers markets nationally increased 93.3 percent between 2006
and 2014. Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan said in Alabama, farmers markets increased from 17 statewide
in 1999 to 164 today.
As interest in farmers market shopping has increased, so have
the number of small, natural growing farms. In a state where large
commercial farms became the norm in the past 20 years, small
family-owned operations seemed at risk of dying out. But the consumer push to eat locally grown and organic foods has helped increased interest in the industry in Alabama.
Iverson, Wynne and Walters are on the governing board of the
Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network. Founded in 2001,
ASAN is a resource for more than 2,000 farms, ranches, nonprofit
organizations, government agencies and households interested in
sustainable agriculture.
Learn more about ASAN at www.asanonline.org or call 256743-0742.

18 AUGUST 2017

Above, River Oaks Farm with carrots for sale; such farms are helping to
meet a growing consumer demand for food grown locally. Below, pigs at
River Oaks Farm are fed non-GMO feed and fresh vegetables.

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192; 19

A hero for horse owners

Northwest Alabama’s Life Data Labs
helps horses around the world
By Jennifer Crossley Howard

O

n first stepping into the manufacturing plant at Life Data
Spencer said determining how to store energy to use on such days
Labs, the clean, earthy aroma of teatree oil and alfalfa reis on the list of things to do.
mind you of a natural foods store. But this place is actu“On sunny days, we make more energy than we can use,” he said.
ally one of the most sought-after animal nutrition and healthcare
The Northeast and California are the business’ biggest U.S. marproduct businesses in the world.
kets. Clients include breeders, rodeo trainers in Texas and quarter
The majority of its clients are concentrated in the United States
horse owners in the Shoals who ride the trails.
and the United Kingdom, and the bestselling
The brand’s logo that adorns most of its slick
products are made in Cherokee, Ala., populapackaging — an engraved drawing of a stepping
tion: 1,050.
horse — fits the business’ nod to old-school valAlong this three-mile stretch on U.S. 72 in
ues and dedication to the future. It would look
western Colbert County sit the manufacturing
at home in the yellowed pages of an animal
and office headquarters of Life Data Labs, the
anatomy book.
efforts of a local veterinarian who took a chance
But for all its global reach, some of the most
on an idea.
loyal customers of Life Data live down the road
In the 1980s, Dr. Frank Gravlee decided to
in and around northwest Alabama. The Robgive up animal medicine to study a supplement
bins family that operates the Bluewater Creek
that nourishes and strengthens horse hooves.
Polo Club in Killen uses it on their horses, as
Called Farrier’s Formula, it is the business’ top
does Bob Baffert, a thoroughbred trainer in
selling product and is sold in more than 40
California, whose horses have won Kentucky
countries. Its name is an ode to specialists who
Derbies and Triple Crowns.
care for horse hooves.
As a story of risk typically goes, critics first
The heart of Gravlee’s business philosophy Farrier’s Formula is Life Data Labs’ topunderestimated Gravlee when he debuted Farharkens back to the one he started his journey selling product.
rier’s Formula.
for: the horse.
“When he first developed this formula, he
“Dr. Gravlee has always said if you help a horse, he’ll help you
called it Skin and Coat,” Spencer says. “Tack stores wouldn’t sell it,
back,” says Darryl Spencer, chief financial officer of Life Data Labs.
so he went it to the state farrier organization.”
Gravlee’s business acumen follows a similar notion. Its marriage
Changing the name to Farrier’s Formula helped by appealing to
of local business and forward-thinking practices, such as solar ena hardworking trade, Spencer says. Farriers shoe horses every six
ergy that drives production and vacuum-sealed products to preweeks, and found Gravlee’s formula worked and liked that it was
serve shelf life, are what distinguish Life Data Labs.
made in state.
A yard full of solar panels sit out back, but today it is cloudy.
A horse’s livelihood depends on its hooves. Properly tending to

Life Data Labs ships
internationally from its
headquarters in Colbert County, Ala.

six-inch hooves that support a thousand-pound animal makes the
difference between a healthy horse and one prone to illness.
“If you don’t have strong, healthy hooves, your horse is going to
get down very quickly,” Spencer says.

Successful formula expands

The success of the original Farrier’s Formula led to the debut of
Farrier’s Formula Double Strength Plus Joint in November.
Much of Gravlee’s research was done on site and at nearby Rosetrail Stables, a 12-acre horse farm where he studied and cared for
animals from birth to maturity. His son, Scott, also a veterinarian,
does most of the research now.
In Alabama, and the rest of the country, Life Data Labs sells
through farriers, veterinary offices and tack and feed stores such as
the Colbert Farmers Cooperative in Tuscumbia.
The Shoals boasts a thriving equine community, including a rescue home in rural Florence, says Brandi Robbins, an employee at
the co-op. Horse care makes up 90 percent of business. Her brother
is a farrier who’s a fan of Life Data.

Dr. Frank Gravlee’s
company conducts
research, manufactures
products and provides
product support from
its headquarters in
Cherokee, Ala.

22 AUGUST 2017

“It’s one of the few foot supplements we carry because it’s local,” Robbins says. “Everybody likes local stuff, and this is a good
product.”
Life Data Labs follows a streamlined business plan and employs
15 workers.
Though machinery in such factories has replaced millions of
jobs in recent decades, Dr. Gravlee’s philosophy finds a balance between maintaining jobs while looking to the future.
“If we get to the point we need to hire more people, we think, is
there anything we can do to make our equipment more efficient,
because you can pay people more to run a machine than supervise
other people,” Spencer says.
This local business is one that intends to stay stateside, specifically in Alabama. Warehouses in Canada and the United Kingdom could grow, but production will remain in the Yellowhammer
State.
“I anticipate all manufacturing to continue here, forever,” Spencer says. “You can’t outsource quality. If we have any plans to expand, we will do it here.”

Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192; 23

Nick relies on five sta
By Brad Bradford

E

meril Lagasse is one of the best chefs in the Southeast. He has
access to the best kitchens, the best meat, the best equipment and
the best staff. Emeril worked hard to get where he is today, but my
Aunt Berta may be just as good, given the same resources. The SEC and
the entire college football nation can relate to this analogy.
Nick Saban has run away and retired the recruiting championship with
seven straight No. 1 classes with his latest haul. This year, there were
11 five-star recruits in the SEC. Bama signed six of them; Auburn,
LSU and Tennessee signed one each and Georgia signed two.
Alabama continues to stockpile, with 65 percent of its players coming from outside Alabama. Top recruits continue the
yearly trek to Tuscaloosa knowing that they must wait their
turn behind other five-stars. This adds to daily competition
for playing time.
When Vegas puts the odds of winning the national
championship for Alabama at 3 to 1, you know that the
talent and coaching is there. Hard to bet against them.
Auburn faces the dilemma that it has faced in Gus Malzahn’s soon-to-be fifth year: relying on one “star” to lead the Tigers to the promised land of the playoffs. In the past, it was Jeremy
Johnson as quarterback. He ended up third string and never reached
his potential. Next, it was Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator who
was going to be the answer. His defense finished 71st in the nation, giving up 405 yards per game. After one year, he was off to South Carolina.
This year, the Tiger hype is former Baylor quarterback transfer Jarrett Stidham. He showed in the spring that he has all the tools needed to get Auburn over the hump.
Two important questions: 1. Will Gus stay out of the way and
let new coordinator Chip Lindsey run the offense? 2. Stidham
has not played since 2015 when he played in the Big 12. The Big
12 defenses are nothing like the real bullets he is going to face
against Clemson and the athleticism of the defenses in the SEC.
How will he react?

ALABAMA 2016: Listening to Nick Saban and Jalen Hurts talk
about last year, you would think that Alabama finished 6-7, lost to
Chattanooga and got beat in the Birmingham Bowl instead of going
14-1. Winning four of the last eight national championships and going for a three-peat causes anyone wearing crimson or houndstooth to
have one simple goal: Hoist the crystal trophy in early January or it is a
disappointing season.
Last year’s defense will go down as one of the most dominating in Tide
history. However, it will also be known for playing 99 snaps on defense
against Clemson and giving up a last-second touchdown on a pick pass
and losing the national championship 35-31.
On that night in Tampa Bay, the better team made the fourth-quarter plays and won it all. No excuses. Bama won its third straight SEC
title and is the only team to be included all three years in the Final Four
playoff.
Freshman quarterback Hurts was the offensive player of the year. The
defense finished first in scoring defense, first in rushing defense and second in total defense nationally. Except for an early season scare by Ole
Miss and a 10-0 win against LSU, no one came closer than 18 points –
until Clemson.
24 AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

tars; Gus relies on one
AUBURN 2016: Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele kept the Tigers in
every game by finishing seventh in scoring defense nationally, giving up
17 points per game and playing with the intensity that Auburn is known
for. (For comparison, Alabama finished first in the nation at 13 points allowed, a difference of only 4 points).
Injuries to quarterback Sean White and running back Kam Pettway led
to a record of 8-5. Losing by 6 points to Clemson and 6 points to Georgia shows just how close Auburn came to a 10-win season. Beating
LSU at home on a last-second heart-stopper kept the Tigers from
starting 1-3. Instead, that win (well-earned) led to a six-game
winning streak and a 7-2 record headed into the road game at
Georgia. They were ranked ninth in the playoff rankings and
controlled their own destiny.
Unfortunately, the wheels came off. No second half
first downs against Georgia led to a loss. Two weeks later,
they scored four field goals but no touchdowns against
Alabama. Finishing number 112 in passing offense (out of
128 teams) allowed defenses to load the box and disregard
deep passing threats.
BIG FOUR ROUND ROBIN: The top two teams in the SEC
(Alabama and Auburn) and the ACC (Clemson and FSU) play
each other, which will basically eliminate two of these four
from the playoffs. Bama opens in Atlanta against Florida
State. This can very well be No. 1 vs. No. 2. Obviously,
one will be 1-0 and the other 0-1. The loser will
not drop lower than 6th but has very little
margin of error for the rest of
2017.

The next week, Auburn travels to Clemson for a battle of the Tigers. Since it is the second week, one will
then be 2-0 and the other will be 1-1. On Nov. 11, Clemson plays
at Florida State. If either loses against the Tigers or Tide in September, this will be a second loss. The Iron Bowl is two weeks
later. Unless Bama and Auburn both win earlier against FSU and
Clemson, this also will be a second loss and take that team out of the
playoff scenario.
Auburn and Alabama both play in the SEC West. Florida State
and Clemson both play in the ACC Atlantic division. Only one
from each division can make the SEC and ACC championship
games.
ALABAMA OUTLOOK: This is the first year since 2013 that
the Tide will return a starter at quarterback. The backfield is loaded with a healthy Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris. Top recruit
Najee Harris can make a difference real quick. The offensive line
is experienced.
Saban replaced Lane Kiffin as offensive coordinator with BriAlabama Living

AUGUST 2017 25

SEC West prediction: 1. Alabama: too much talent and hunger
from Clemson loss. 2. LSU: Guice at running back and play Auburn
at home 3. Auburn: Must beat Georgia and Alabama. Otherwise,
the record moves to 0-8 in these games. The natives get restless.
4. Mississippi State: Fitzgerald is one of the top SEC QBs. 5. Texas A&M: Too thin on both sides of the line. Sumlin’s hot seat gets
scalding. 6. Arkansas: When is Bielema going to win a big game?
7. Ole Miss: NCAA probe has sent the Rebels from the penthouse
to the outhouse.
National picture: Ten teams have a good shot at making the
2017 playoff. They are:
SEC: Alabama and Auburn. ACC: Florida State and Clemson.
Big 10: Ohio State and Penn State. Big 12: Oklahoma State. Pac 12:
Southern Cal and Washington. AAC: South Florida.
Semifinals: Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs Penn State (Bama 31, Nittany Lions 14). Rose Bowl: Florida State vs USC (FSU 38, Trojans
35).
National championship game in Atlanta: Alabama and Florida State open the new dome in Atlanta on Sept. 2 ranked No. 1
and No. 2. On Jan. 8, 2018, these two teams will meet again for all
the marbles. Great game again. Same results again: Alabama 42,
FSU 28.

Jalen Hurts

Brad Bradford served on the coaching
staffs at Alabama and the University of
Louisville. He and his wife Susan (former
Auburn cheerleader) own Bradford
Consulting Group. Brad can be reached
at brad@coachbradfinancial.com or
coachbradbradford@gmail.com.

Crimson Tide Photos/UA Athletics

an “RUN” Daboll. His marching orders are to get the ball in the
hands of playmakers (like Calvin Ridley) and don’t try to “out-cute”
the defense.
Defensively, the Tide lost seven starters to the NFL. The good
news is that nine of the 11 projected starters on defense will be
either juniors or seniors. Concerns: finding a kicker and depth at
quarterback.
Prediction: SEC West champions with a regular season record
of 11-1. Possible losses: Florida State or Auburn.
AUBURN OUTLOOK: Everything depends on the development of quarterback Jarrett Stidham and keeping the running
backs healthy. The duo of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson
at running back behind an experienced offensive line is going to
give defenses headaches. Malzahn has recruited well on the defensive front and coordinator Steele will keep the Tigers in close
games. Daniel Carlson is the best kicker in the country. This means
that the offense only needs to get one first down past the 50 and it
should turn into at least three points.
Scheduling Georgia Southern in the opener is off the chart on
the “dumb meter.” They play a triple option offense, which requires
more discipline and special assignments for the defense. (Ask the
2011 Alabama defense that gave up 21 points to them the week
before the Iron Bowl). Next time, schedule someone who runs an
offense similar to Clemson, the second week opponent. Concerns:
finding pass rushers and a true deep threat at wide receiver.
Prediction: Third in the SEC West with a regular season record
of 9-3. Possible losses: Clemson, LSU, Texas A&M, Georgia and
Alabama.

Auburn photos by Wade
Rackley/AU Athletics

Kamryn Pettway

SEC East prediction: 1. Georgia: Experience at quarterback and
return of Nick Chubb. 2. Florida: Defense is good. Must develop a
QB. 3. Kentucky: good run game. 4. Vandy: Derek Mason is one
of the best coaches in the conference. 5. Tennessee: Farewell season for Butch Jones. 6. South Carolina: Still too young. 7. Missouri:
signed 24 three-star recruits. Ouch!
26 AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

28â&#x20AC;&#x192; AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

August | Around Alabama

Photo courtesy of Jennifer CLaire Moore Foundation.

19

The 20th Annual Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation Professional Rodeo will be August 3-5 at the City of Foley
Horse Arena.

3-5

Foley,
Jennifer Claire Moore
Foundation 20th Annual Professional Rodeo. Bull riding by
professional cowboys, bouncy
houses for kids and more. The
rodeo is the primary fundraiser for the Jennifer Claire Moore
Foundation, a nonproﬁt organization providing training, funding and support of Peer Helper
Programs in Baldwin County.
Peer Helper Programs empower students to serve as tutors,
mentors, mediators and friends
to their fellow students. Rodeo
begins at 8 p.m. at the City of Foley Horse Arena, 113 East Rosetta
Ave., with kids’ activities starting
at 6 p.m. Admission is $12 for
adults, $6 for children ages 4-12,
and free for ages 3 and under.
Tickets are sold in advance at
819 North McKenzie St., Foley,
Summerdale Western Store on
Highway 59 in Summerdale and
Frances Holk-Jones State Farm
Insurance, 315 E. Laurel Ave.,
Foley. General admission tickets
will be available each night at the
gate of the Rodeo. peerhelpers.
org

5

Dauphin Island, 153rd
Commemoration of Battle of Mobile Bay. The ramparts
of Fort Gaines have guarded
the entrance to Mobile Bay for
more than 150 years, standing at
the tip of Dauphin Island. Event
highlights Fort Gaines’ integral

role in the Battle of Mobile Bay.
Experience living history with
live demonstrations.
dauphinisland.org

5

Fairhope, The Weeks Bay
Foundation’s 5th Annual
Pelican Paddle Canoe and Kayak
Race. For all ages and skill levels
and a non-competitive, guided
eco-tour of Weeks Bay, between
Fairhope and Foley. There is also
a 7-mile pro option for serious
paddlers. Entry includes lunch,
drinks, a Pelican Paddle t-shirt,
and a chance to win a kayak and
other prizes. Food from local
food trucks will be available. A
limited number of loaner kayaks
available, but must be reserved
in advance. To register, visit www.
weeksbay.org, or call 251-9905004. Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center, 11525 US Highway
98.

5

Orrville, True Crime Walking
Tour of Old Cahawba, 9518
Cahaba Rd. Cahawba grew from
a frontier capital into a center
of wealth and culture. Despite
its short-lived grasp on prosperty and reﬁnement, Cahawba
never lost its frontier mentality.
From feuding families delivering
street justice to ones threatening to assassinate the President,
Cahawba’s corruption will be
revealed on a one-hour guided
walking tour. $8. 334-872-8058,
cahawba.com

Talladega, The Afternoon of Praise at the
Ritz Theatre will feature singers and musicians along with
Dove Award nominee Richard
Kingsmore, who will perform
Christian classics and Southern
Gospel favorites to raise funds
for The Red Door Kitchen and
Samaritan House. Performance
times are 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Admission is $20. Tickets may be
purchased at the Ritz Theatre,
115 Court Square North, 256315-0000. For updates and more
information, visit www.facebook.com/afternoonofpraise.

18-19

Russellville,
Franklin County Watermelon Festival features
two days of music, contests,
entertainment, pageant, arts &
crafts, 5K, antique car & truck
show, food, tractor show and
free watermelon. Watermelon
contests include largest melon,
seed spitting, best tasting, best
dressed and most unusual.
franklincountychamber.org

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events
Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number.
Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations.

North America,
A total eclipse of the sun
will be visible across all North
America, weather permitting.
The entire continent will experience a partial eclipse lasting two
to three hours. Anyone within
a 70-mile wide path stretching
through 14 states from Oregon
to South Carolina will experience
a total eclipse. In Alabama, the
eclipse will be partial. The best
resource for viewing information,
including how to view the eclipse
safely, is eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

Like Alabama Living on facebook
Follow Alabama Living on
Twitter @Alabama_Living

AUGUST 2017 29

Al

Cast your vote for the Best of
Alabama for the chance to win

Vote online for a
chance to win an extra

250

$

$

2018

Deadline to vote is Oct. 31, 2017.

100

www.alabamaliving.com

It’s back! Once again, Alabama Living readers have a chance to vote on the places and things
that make our state great! We’ve got some new categories this year. So check out the questions,
write in your answer for each one and tell us what’s your choice for the “Best of Alabama!”

My son and his wife just bought an electric vehicle.
I was surprised to learn that the cost of their new
electric vehicle was comparable to a gasoline-powered car.
I need to replace my car in a few years and would like to
learn more about electric vehicles. What are the pros and
cons of going electric?

A:

Your son is not alone. The electric vehicle (EV) market
is growing rapidly. There are good reasons why EVs are
becoming more popular, but there are also a few potential drawbacks.
Let’s start with the basics: EVs are vehicles that plug into the electric grid for some or all of their power. There are two primary types
of EVs. All-electric EVs—such as the Nissan LEAF—are powered
entirely with electricity. Plug-in hybrid EVs—such as the Chevrolet
Volt—are dual-fuel cars, meaning both the electric motor and the
internal combustion engine can propel the car.
A key benefit of EVs is that a driver’s trips to the gas station are
either vastly reduced or eliminated altogether. However, in lieu of
gas refueling, EVs need to be recharged. At the lowest charging
level, called Level 1, an hour of charging typically provides two to
five miles of range per hour. Because the average light-duty car is
parked for 12 hours per day at a residence, many EV drivers can
use Level 1 charging for most of their charging needs. The fastest
charging level, called DC Fast-Charging, can provide 60-80 miles
of range in a 20-minute period.
Charging with electricity is nearly always cheaper than fueling
with gasoline. An electric gallon—or “eGallon”—represents the
cost of driving an EV the same distance a gasoline-powered vehicle
could travel on one gallon of gasoline. On average, an eGallon is
about one-third the cost of a gallon of gasoline. Another benefit
of charging with electricity is that, throughout many parts of the
country, it is a cleaner fuel source than gasoline. Although the exact
environmental benefits of driving an EV will vary, one recent study
found that two-thirds of Americans live in regions where driving
an EV is cleaner than driving a 50 MPG gas-powered car.
Another key reason for the rise in EV ownership is because of
recent reductions in the upfront cost of the cars. The batteries used
in EVs are the most expensive component of the cars, but thanks
to improving production methods, the cost of the batteries has
dropped by more than 35 percent since 2010, and costs are expect-

Patrick Keegan writes on consumer and cooperative
affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of
the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forproﬁt electric cooperatives. Write to energytips@
collaborativeefﬁciency.com for more information.

32 AUGUST 2017

The Nissan LEAF is the
world’s best-selling EV.
PHOTO COURTESY NISSAN

ed to keep dropping. Because of these cost reductions and technology improvements, EVs are hitting some major performance and
affordability milestones. For example, in late 2016, General Motors
released the Chevrolet Bolt—an all-electric EV with an estimated
range of 238 miles per charge, costing about $30,000 after rebates.

Range anxiety still a concern

Although even longer range and more affordable EVs are expected to hit the market soon, one of the key drawbacks of EVs
is that most models currently have a range of less than 100 miles
per charge. More and more public charging stations are available
across the United States, but “range anxiety” is still a concern for
many potential buyers. Fortunately, if you are considering an EV,
keep in mind that the average American’s daily driving patterns are
well-suited for EV use. More than half of all U.S. vehicle trips are
between one and ten miles, and even in rural areas the average daily
drive distances for typical errands and commutes are well within
the range of most currently available EVs.
EVs are also well-suited for many commercial applications. For
example, EVs are now being used as part of ridesharing services
like Uber, where average trip distances are between just 5 and 7
miles. Companies like Frito-Lay and FedEx are also introducing
EVs into their delivery fleets, and a growing number of municipalities are buying electric buses. One of the primary draws of EVs for
commercial use is their minimal maintenance requirements.
If you are interested in learning more about EVs, contact a local
car dealer to schedule a test drive. Many curious drivers are impressed by the performance of EVs, especially the instant torque
provided by the electric motor.
Your electric co-op can also be a great resource. More and more
co-ops own EVs as part of their fleets and may offer “ride and drive”
events. Dozens of co-ops also offer reduced electricity rates for “off
peak” EV charging, which can help you save even more money on
fueling.
www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017 33

| Worth the drive |

Joe’s Pizza

Chicago ﬂavor for northeast Alabama
Story and photos by Aaron Tanner

From left: Joe’s Pizza, on U.S. Highway 72 in Woodville. Manager Mary Thompson and her father, Alvaro Ramos, show off the muffuletta, a popular menu
item. The building that houses the restaurant may be small, but the pizzas are big on flavor.

T

he little town of Woodville in Jackson County might be the last place
you’d expect to find a restaurant that
serves pizza made with love by a family
from Chicago.
Joe’s Pizza is a small building with only
a few places for sitting, both inside and
outside, but it is big on cranking out delicious food to nearby residents who crowd
the place for a nice take-home meal, and
tourists accessing nearby kayaking, fishing
and caving spots in this scenic region of
northeast Alabama.
Manager Mary Thompson is hard at
work, running the cash register, taking
orders, making the food and talking with
customers. In the back, Thompson’s parents, Alvaro and Diane Ramos, make the
orders and operate the ovens. Due to the
limited space, the majority of customers
place their order to go either at the cash
register or over the phone.
Although Thompson and her siblings
were born and raised in the Windy City,
their family has roots in the Paint Rock
Valley. Her mother was born and raised in
New Hope in nearby Madison County and
her uncle lives in Woodville.

A mother’s dream

After spending many years in Chicago, Thompson and her immediate family
Joe’s Pizza

moved to Woodville in 2000 to be closer to
her mom’s family and hometown.
Her mom had a dream to open her own
restaurant. Her years in Chicago – one
of the nation’s holy cities for pizza – exposed her to a variety of pizza restaurants.
She also wanted to work with family. The
restaurant business may be in the blood;
her brother, Thompson’s uncle, owned a
restaurant of his own at the time.
In 2003, Thompson’s brother, Jose
Vigenor, made mom’s dream come true
by buying an old restaurant that served
the community for many years. Today,
Vigenor is the part owner of Joe’s Pizza.
Many of Thompson’s family members,
along with non-family members, have
kept Joe’s Pizza going over the years.
Although there are challenges to working closely with family, Thompson would
not have it any other way. “I wouldn’t work
with anyone else,” she says. “We get a flow
going.”
The pizza choices are simple at Joe’s
– the only options are either adding toppings to a cheese pizza or ordering their
legendary supreme pizza, which includes
sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions,
green peppers, green olives, black olives
and anchovies. As the sign outside points
out, the dough is made from scratch daily.
The combination of fresh dough and ingredients makes Joe’s supreme pizza their
best-selling item.
Another best-seller is the muffuletta.
This giant sandwich includes a blend of
sliced pastrami, ham, salami, pepperoni,
Swiss cheese and olives. The juices from
the meats and the tanginess of the olives
melt together in the oven, bringing a bit of
the Gulf Coast to the Cumberland Plateau.
Thompson’s mother decided to add the

New Orleans staple to the menu after taking a trip to the city. “She tried one and
she loved it, so she wanted to put it on the
menu,” says Thompson, who takes pride in
her muffulettas going toe to toe with those
in larger cities.

Wings and catﬁsh, too

Not in the mood for pizza or a sandwich? Joe’s also has homemade chicken
wings, lasagna and spaghetti. Of course,
no restaurant based in the South would be
complete without southern fried catfish.
Thompson says many are surprised when
they see catfish on their menu, but it is a
case of appealing to the local clientele. “It’s
a Southern favorite, so we like to cater to
our customers,” Thompson says.
Joe’s Pizza has gained many regulars
over the years, thanks to great customer
service and the friendly atmosphere. “I
love meeting new people and getting to
know their stories,” Thompson says. “It’s
not just about cooking.”
Thompson points out that running
a pizza restaurant in a small town like
Woodville allows Joe’s to offer a quality
product in an area served by few restaurants, and that the same process would be
harder to replicate back in Chicago. “People (in Chicago) want what’s convenient,”
Thompson says.
Many who travel through this region
often pass by Joe’s Pizza before giving the
place a try. “They (the customers) keep
saying ‘we want to stop’,” says Thompson.
“It’s kind of a hole-in-the-wall.”
But the number of cars that fill the gravel parking lot for lunch and dinner are
proof enough that Joe’s Pizza is a place
worth stopping by and eating like one of
the “locals.”
www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192; 35

| Alabama People |

Renee Simmons Raney

Teaching nature the imaginative way
Renee Simmons Raney grew up on a farm near Choccolocco, Ala., where
she learned about the wonders of nature. Ever since, she’s dedicated her life
to educating people about nature in unique ways.
Recently, she left a job with the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust to accept the
position of park operations supervisor and director of events with Cheaha
State Park near Talladega. When not leading a hike or telling stories to children, she writes books, including her most recent, Hairy Scary but Mostly
Merry Fairies: Curing Nature Deficiency Through Folklore, Imagination and
Creative Outdoor Activities. – John Felsher
How did your upbringing influence your career?
I was blessed to grow up on my grandfather’s dairy farm nestled in the
valley just between the Choccolocco Mountains and the Cheaha Mountain range. My family encouraged me to be creative and to respect even
the tiniest portions of the natural world. My imagination had no boundaries. I thought all children had this experience until I started school and
realized that many children lacked the opportunity for outdoor play.
As I grew up and began my career in environmental education, my passion for merging science with art and creative play became my mission.
Most people lose touch with the enchantment of youth, but I never did!
I still live on a corner of that farm with my husband, my son, four happy
dogs, 10 content chickens and a few hives of joyful honeybees.

What is Nature Deficit Disorder?
I am part of the “No Child Left Inside” movement. A few years ago,
Dr. Richard Louv wrote a book called Last Child in the Woods in which he
coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder.” Louv believed that the lack
of outdoor play in childhood is causing a great disconnect between a
generation of young people and the natural world. We know that 30 minutes a day spent outside can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, increase
mental productivity and bring pleasure.
What are your goals for your new job at Cheaha State Park?
It is my goal to provide unique environmental education, cultural heritage and nature art programs for diverse audiences of all backgrounds
and ages. I want everyone to ascend the cloud-shrouded mountain and
discover Cheaha State Park, which we often refer to as “the island in the
sky!” Our team is developing several programs such as a permanent “Fairy
Trail” where families can
create small structures
from all natural materials while using their
Learn more about Renee
creativity to connect
Simmons
Raney or order
with nature.
her books at
www.reneeraney.com.

PHOTO BY MIKE McCRACKEN

How did your interest in fairies, folklore and storytelling transfer
over into your career?
Albert Einstein said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read
them fairy tales.” I believe every moment in nature is a “Once Upon a
Time” moment. I have spent many years working with inner city and underserved youth in Alabama. Most of these children don’t have opportunities to connect with the natural world. When we take them to national
parks or forests, they are terrified.
Once I have shared my natural history fairy tale stories, explained that
they can pretend to be the size of their pinky finger and allow them to
create their own nature home or fairy house, they become comfortably
fearless. The insects and creepy things are no longer enemies.
In my book, I share my fairy stories from childhood through present day. I include lists of activities for each chapter to make it
easy for parents and grandparents to play outside with their young
folks. I have developed an “enchanted curriculum” for teachers to
use these techniques to teach science, math, literature, physics
and other topics. After reading my first book, Calico Ghosts, Alabama’s own Kathryn Tucker Windham handed me her old black
click pen and said, “Take my pen and continue to inspire imagination across the South.” It was an epic moment in my life!
People say you have a unique way of presenting your
environmental education programs. How is that?
I merge my skills as a biologist and anthropologist with my
passion for creative drama and storytelling to create exceptional
experiential place-based education programs for vast audiences.
I’ve watched the magical joy spread across a child’s face when she
holds her first glob of frog eggs in her hands and witnessed an
80-year-old man transform into a mesmerized 8-year-old as he
listens to stories about farms and wild places not forgotten. I use
live animals, or “creature teachers,” in most of my programs.

36 AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

Columbus

Ellijay

2,548 sq. ft. under roof •

$

187,000

Creekside

Quality custom STARTING @
$
homes built
52
PLANS
on your land!

140+

SQ. FT.
UNDER ROOF

1,744 sq. ft. under roof • $126,600

“Your company has very high
standards and you delivered to us a
superior home of the utmost quality”
–Chase, Clanton, AL

Call for a
FREE Design Consultation
Price does not include land improvements. Prices subject to change.
Some of the homes shown have options not in the base price.

For more than 15 years, We have
been providing smart buyers across
the south east with exceptional
quality and value! Amazing standard
features, guaranteed build times
and 10 year structural warranties
are just some of the benefits that
come with building a Trinity Custom
Home. Choose from over 140 stock
plans or customize one of our
plans to fit your family’s needs and
Budget! Let’s get started designing
your dream home today!

2,376 sq. ft. under roo

f • $168,900

Grand Vista

$
1,300
6,420 sq. ft. under roof • 46

“We love our home and thank your
company as a whole for everything that
you guys have done to make this a success”
–Ashley, Greenville, AL
OFFICES SERVING ALABAMA:

Sweet Home Alabama
in New York City
Miniature Lookout Mountain at the Flatiron North Plaza
in New York City invited visitors to climb up and get a
360 degree virtual look at the Little River Canyon.

A

labama’s Department of Travel and Tourism staged a week
You would climb steps to the top and at the top put on 3D goggles
of high profile promotions on the streets of New York City
to view a 360-degree virtual Little River Canyon video.
in June to attract visitors to the state. Similar to promotions
I could not believe the sensation I had as I turned around 360
held in previous years, this year’s event focused on giving potential
degrees looking at the canyon as if floating in the sky above, lookvisitors a vision of what Alabama offers, and provided a vivid look
ing all around, up and down feeling like I was walking about the
at its landscape via virtual reality glasses that allowed viewers to
green lush forests below. Everyone loved it. There were lines all
“see” Little River Canyon National Preserve on Lookout Mountain
day to see it; in fact, we stayed an hour later than planned just to
in Fort Payne.
allow the line to go down.
Tristan Dersham, 16, granddaughter of DeKalb County Tourism
Once visitors viewed the video, they were invited to have their
President and CEO John Dersham, accompicture taken in front of the mountain
panied her grandfather to New York for the
with the Empire State building in the backexperience and the two wrote about their exground. They were emailed their picture
periences for Alabama Living:
with “Sweet Home Alabama in New York”
The director of tourism for the state, Lee
embedded in the image. People from all
Sentell, invited my grandpa to serve as an
around the world came to see Little River
ambassador for the Little River Canyon
Canyon in New York City and they all were
promotions, which included a 20-story tall
impressed. They said they’d like to visit Alaphotograph adhered to the side of a buildbama and many who have never been to Aling near Madison Square Garden. It was
abama were in disbelief, as we did not look
breathtaking when we walked around the
at all like they imagined.
corner of 34th Street and 8th Avenue and Tristan and John Dersham helped welcome
Another Alabama tourism “Sweet Home
there it was…gigantic, colorful and all lit visitors in NYC.
Alabama” event during the week includup. It made us feel so proud of our state and
ed a media event in Brooklyn to show and
our area.
sample the Alabama craft breweries. The 360 video of Little River
Just think, Little River Canyon in New York City! It was a spot
Canyon was shown there, too.
of bright green in a seemingly never-ending mile of shades of gray
On another day, a large Mobile Mardi Gras float was in Times
and black. Thousands of people were here on the streets walking
Square, with a live jazz band and costumed dancers.
around night and day and there was no way to miss this gigantic
My grandpa and I took lots of pictures and shared them on soview of Little River Canyon. In addition to the skyscraper art, a
cial media all during the week to help get the word out even more.
miniature Lookout Mountain was built at the Flatiron North PlaThis was a very successful week with thousands more people getza. The mountain was about the size of an average living room.
ting to witness our “real” Alabama. I think they will come see us.
38 AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

AREA publications win national awards

A

REA publications won two national awards at the Cooperative Communicators Association’s (CCA) Excellence
in Communications awards ceremony, held during the
annual CCA Educational Institute June 3-6 in Baton
Rouge, La.
“The Best of Alabama Living” cookbook won
second place in the miscellaneous print category,
ranking one point behind Cullman EC’s 80th anniversary book, “Along These Lines,” which took
first place.
Alabama Living won third
place in the member magazine category of publications with a budget of more
than $100,000. It was the only
statewide electric cooperative
magazine to place in the category, beating statewide electric
cooperatives in Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma.
“We were gratified to be the
only statewide electric cooperative
magazine honored in this category,”
says Vice President of Communications Lenore Vickrey, who accepted both awards at the meeting.
“It is a testimony to the hard work by the talented communicators
at our statewide office and our local communicators who work

For Rent or Sale

Mobile Offices
• 20’-40’ lengths
• Custom Built

every day to tell the stories of our rural electric cooperatives.” Regarding the cookbook award, Vickrey quips, “If we had to lose to
someone, at least it was one of our own. Cullman did a beautiful
job with its 80th anniversary book.”
Professional communicators representing
cooperatives from across the United States and
Canada submitted nearly 600 entries in the
competition. The awards recognize
the best in writing, photography, programs and projects,
and publications. The four-day
educational program included
a variety of professional development sessions ranging from
effective social media tactics and
video production, to photography
tips and writing workshops.
CCA is an organization of 300 professionals who communicate for cooperatives. The organization is unique
in both its mission and membership.
CCA works toward helping members
excel in communications — from writing, photography, and editing to video,
layout and design. Just as important, CCA emphasizes ideas and
strategies aimed at making communications more successful for
cooperatives.

his is such an excellent time to make
cool, refreshing salads with the
many summer fruits and vegetables
currently available from home gardens
and produce stands, but don’t forget that
we can also add crisp homegrown salad
greens to our plates, too.
Even though lettuces and other salad
greens are considered cool-season
crops, a number of heat-tolerant cultivars can be grown during the summer
as long as we provide them with the
proper growing conditions to weather
the hot weather. Plus, it’s not too early
to get ready for fall salad season and
establish a growing system that provides fresh salad greens all year long.
The term “salad greens” includes
several different leafy greens, most of
which hail from three primary botanical families. Lettuces belong to the
aster or sunflower family (Asteraceae); kale, arugula and mustard greens
are members of the cabbage (Brassica) family; and spinach and chard are kin
to the beet and quinoa (Amaranthaceae)
family. Each of these greens has their own
distinctive flavor and texture qualities,
from sweet and delicate to spicy and fibrous, but the easiest of them to grow this
time of year are the lettuces.
Lettuces are typically grouped into four
major categories: crisphead (iceberg),
loose leaf, romaine (cos) and butterhead
(semi-heading). Loose leaf cultivars,
which includes oakleaf lettuces, are usually the most heat tolerant followed by
the butterheads. Crisphead and romaine
lettuces are often the hardest to grow in
the heat of summer; however, a number
of heat-tolerant cultivars have been developed in all four of these lettuce categories,
so the options are improving.
Since lettuce seeds are relatively inexpensive and store well (in a cool, dry
place), consider buying seed for lots of

Katie Jackson is a
freelance writer and
editor based in Opelika,
Alabama. Contact her
at katielamarjackson@
gmail.com.

40 AUGUST 2017

different cultivars. That way you can try
some now and have the others ready for
use into the fall and throughout the year.
This time of year it may be difficult to find
prepackaged lettuce seed at local nursery centers but you can order them yearround from your favorite seed supplier.
Once you’ve got seeds in hand, the big-

gest challenge to growing a successful late
summer lettuce crop is likely going to be
soil temperature. Lettuce seeds will not
germinate in soil or growing media that is
warmer than 80 degrees so you may want
to start the seeds in growing flats that can
be kept indoors or in a cool, shaded outside area until the seedlings have emerged.
They can then be transplanted into the
garden, which this time of year should be
in an area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
If you don’t have such a location or if it’s
especially hot outside, cover them with a
light layer of mulch or a shade cloth and
keep them well watered.
Another planting option that is perfect
this time of year (and any time of year) is
to plant lettuce in containers that can be
kept outside the kitchen door or inside
the house in a warm (but not directly in
the sun) location. That way you can better control air and soil temperatures and
you’ll have lettuce close at hand when
you’re ready to harvest some for a summer meal.
In addition, lettuces and other leafy
greens are pretty so they make nice, edible
ornamental plants for pots and in flowerbeds throughout the year.

If you want to have a crop of lettuce
growing all the time, try succession planting. Just sow new batches of seed every
two to three weeks throughout the year so
as one crop tapers off, a new crop of fresh
greens is coming on.
As you’re exploring all the late summer/early fall lettuce options, remember
that now is also the time to begin
buying and starting seeds for other
fall crops such as bush beans, beets,
carrots, cole crops (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower,
kale and kohlrabi), leeks, mustards,
onions, peas, radishes, spinach and
turnips.
If you need guidance on what to
plant when, check out the Alabama
Cooperative Extension System’s free
Planting Guide for Home Gardening in Alabama publication, which
can be found at www.aces.edu/
pubs/docs/A/ANR-0063/ANR0063.pdf or through your local Extension office.

August Tips














Start prepping last year’s poinsettias,
Christmas cactus and amaryllis for the
upcoming holiday season by bringing
them indoors and limiting their sunlight for the next few months.
Begin improving soil for next year’s
garden plots by taking a soil test and
adding organic matter and other soil
amendments.
Watch for insect and disease problems and treat as needed.
Sow seeds for fall cool-season ﬂowers and vegetables in ﬂats or in the
garden.
Begin drying herbs and preserving the
last of the summer produce.
Continue to mow and water lawns as
needed.
Divide irises and other overcrowded
perennials.
Keep birdbaths and birdfeeders full
and clean.
Order spring bulbs for fall planting
and for forcing holiday bulbs.
Begin saving seed and taking cuttings
from ornamental and vegetable
plants.
www.alabamaliving.coop

Continued from Page 10

Alabama to see partial eclipse Aug. 21

practice providers), especially if some practice requirements
were relaxed. One barrier to expanding this service is the
current requirements for having collaborative practice agreements with physicians working with nurse practitioners.
All nurse practitioners are required to work with a collaborating physician. The physician must be in the practice location with the nurse practitioner, including patient records review, for a minimum of 10 percent of the nurse practitioner’s
practice time. This requirement is relaxed to include quarterly contact after the nurse practitioner has been practicing for
two years.
Most nurse practitioners and collaborating physicians
report that they enjoy and their patients benefit from their
affiliation. However, the 10 percent direct supervision time
requirement prevents many rural physicians from collaborating with nurse practitioners because of this demand on their
own practice time. Also, one physician can only work with
four full-time nurse practitioners. This rule especially impacts on greater utilization of nurse practitioners in our rural
areas because of the smaller number of physicians practicing
in rural areas.
With the expansion of telemedicine in Alabama, perhaps
other ways can be found to increase the provision of primary care services by nurse practitioners (and other advanced
practice providers) in rural areas, including in rural hospital emergency departments. Alabama’s health care needs are
greater than those in most other states. Alabama needs to become a leader in more fully utilizing our limited health care
provider resources.

total eclipse of the sun will be visible across all North America
on Monday, Aug. 21, weather permitting. The entire continent
will experience a partial eclipse lasting two to three hours. Anyone within a 70-milewide path stretching through 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a total eclipse. In Alabama, the
eclipse will be partial.
If you travel to a state where the eclipse will be total (the closest
are Tennessee, northeast Georgia and South Carolina), the moon will
completely block the sun’s face for about two minutes -- day will turn
into night, making visible the otherwise hidden solar corona, the sun’s
outer atmosphere. Bright stars and planets will become visible. Birds
will fly to their nighttime roosts, and nocturnal insects such as cicadas
and crickets will buzz and chirp.
The best resource for viewing information, including guidelines on
how to view the eclipse safely and videos of what the eclipse will look
like in your area, is https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

Alabama Living

A

AUGUST 2017 41

| Outdoors |

For the future

Helping preserve critical
habitats to keep them wild

W

ith vast wild acreage of diverse
habitats ranging from tidal
marshes to mountain forests, Alabama offers sportsmen abundant places to
enjoy the outdoors.
A little help from one non-profit organization can keep some of that habitat permanently wild. Based in Piedmont, Ala.,
the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust helps
preserve about 325,000 acres in multiple
states, with the majority in Alabama and
Georgia.
“Our mission is to protect land for present and future generations,” says Katherine
Eddins, executive director of Georgia-Alabama Land Trust. “We look to the future
with a clear vision of our perpetual commitment to land conservation. We see a
future where our rivers, coastlines and wild
and working forests are preserved, cared
for and cherished for the future use, enjoyment and education of generations to
come.”
The land trust uses a legal agreement
called a “conservation easement” to protect
property. Under such an agreement, a landowner can continue using the property for
hunting, farming or similar uses, but agrees
to keep the land as natural as possible and
never develop it commercially. The owner
can sell the land or pass it down to heirs,
but the conservation easement remains,
keeping the land perpetually protected.
“A conservation easement is a voluntary
agreement between the land trust and the
owner to protect the land,” Eddins says. “It
changes the deed to the property so that the
landowner keeps the land, but the owner’s
intentions for that land are put into a legal
document.
“An easement along the Cahaba River
now protects 64 rare and imperiled plant
and animal species, 13 of which are found
nowhere else in the world.”
Landowners do not receive direct comJohn N. Felsher is a
freelance writer and
photographer who writes
from Semmes, Ala.
Contact him through
his website at www.
JohnNFelsher.com

42 AUGUST 2017

pensation for property put in easement. However, the land trust conducts a land appraisal. The landowner
can then use that estimated value as a
tax deduction.
“If people give up value like development rights from the use of their
land for a conservation easement, the
owners get a tax deduction for the val- Ken Nichols next to a pine tree he planted when he
ue given up,” Eddins says. “The conser- was 14 on his family’s property in Dallas County. The
vation easement donation can reduce Georgia-Alabama Land Trust helps preserve such lands
estate, income and property taxes for across Alabama, Georgia and other states.
the landowner.”
Most acreage preserved by ease“In Alabama, we need to focus on certain
ments remains private, but sometimes a
specific high-priority areas like parts of the
government organization wants an easeTombigbee or Coosa rivers,” Eddins says.
ment for such public usage as trails, parks
“The Coosa River watershed, including the
or wildlife management areas.
Choccolocco Creek watershed, is believed
For instance, the land trust has been
to support the largest number of endanworking to obtain easements to create a
gered and threatened species found in any
massive trail system connecting the CloudAlabama waterway of comparable size.
land Canyon State Park in Georgia, just
“We also rely upon the Alabama Foracross the state line from Fort Payne, Ala.,
estry Commission’s guide on key working
to Chattanooga, Tenn.
forest areas. We also look closely at soils.
“We’re also working on another property
Food producing soils across Alabama and
just over the Georgia line where we partGeorgia have been threatened by developnered with Southeastern Cave Conservanment over the past decade. Conservation
cy to create a cave preserve,” Eddins says.
easements can be used to preserve working
“We usually concentrate on more rural
farms and ranches.”
areas, but might work with a community
The non-profit organization receives
to protect important property for parks or
funding from various sources, but most
places with scenic value, perhaps for a green
of it comes as donations from individuals
space plan. Even on private land, easements
passionate about conservation. Some founstill help the people of Alabama because it’s
dations make donations. Sometimes, the
conserved as wildlife habitat or for other
land trust partners with other likemindnatural uses. That benefits the quality of life
ed non-profit organizations, government
for people living in that area.”
agencies or corporations to collaborate on
The land trust not only preserves land,
projects.
but might also enhance or restore natural
“We get a lot of phone calls from people
habitats. The organization did extensive
interested in conserving their lands,” Edwork on restoring wetlands and critical
dins says. “The main way people find out
native longleaf pine savannahs in Alabama
about our work is through word of mouth.
and Georgia.
Our organization maintains a stewardship
States prepare wildlife action plans that
fund to ensure that we have the capacity to
define habitat conservation priorities to
permanently monitor each easement annuprotect flora and fauna within their boundally. These funds, mainly built from conaries. Sometimes, the organization seeks
tributions related to donated conservation
specific critical habitat it wants to enhance
easements, are not used for operations.”
or preserve based upon those plans, but
To make a tax-deductible contribution,
more often, individuals or groups ask for
identify potential easement properties
help with their lands. The organization also
or obtain more information, contact the
conducts periodic seminars on conservaGeorgia-Alabama Land Trust at 256-447tion easements.
1006. On line, see www.galandtrust.org.
www.alabamaliving.coop

Tables indicate peak fish and game feeding and
migration times. Major periods can bracket the
peak by an hour before and an hour after. Minor
peaks, half-hour before and after. Adjusted for
daylight savings time.

| Classifieds |
How To Place a Line
Ad in Marketplace
Closing Deadlines
(in our office):

October 2017 – August 25
November 2017 – September 25
December 2017 – October 25
Ads are $1.75 per word with a
10 word minimum and are on a
prepaid basis; Telephone numbers,
email addresses and websites are
considered 1 word each. Ads will
not be taken over the phone. You
may email your ad to hdutton@
areapower.com; or call (800)4102737 ask for Heather for pricing.;
We accept checks, money orders
and all major credit cards. Mail
ad submission along with a check
or money order made payable
to ALABAMA LIVING, P.O. Box
244014, Montgomery, AL 36124 –
Attn: Classifieds.

Summer
Salads
Salads are sound choices for the
season’s profusion of produce
By Jennifer Kornegay

S

alads of all stripes are ideal
meals for this time of year. For
one, they are wonderful ways
to make the most of the best
foods that summers in the South offer
us: sweet, crunchy corn; cool, juicy
watermelon; crisp peppers; refreshing
cucumber; the bright perfumes of fresh
herbs like basil and mint; plus, plump,
scarlet tomatoes and pop-in-yourmouth peas.

Cook of
the Month

Donna James,
Cullman EC
Donna James’ Cornbread Salad combines
several of summer’s darlings in one substantial dish. She got the recipe from her
daughter, who got it from a friend, who
got it from her mother, and she shares
it every time she gets a request, which is
often. “It has been passed around a lot,”
she says.
She loves its popularity at parties and
potlucks, but she also loves how simple
it truly is. “There are no fancy ingredients.
You probably have most of this in your
pantry or fridge,” she says. “And, you can
really change it up any way you like to
suit what you and your family enjoy.”
Donna prefers red pepper to the green
the recipe calls for, and if you don’t like
pepper, period, she says, “leave it out.”
You can also “lighten up” the recipe
by subbing in low-fat cheese, low-cal
dressing and less bacon.
46 AUGUST 2017

Salads are also pretty simple to throw
together (and simple to eat), keeping
the easy feel of a lazy summer day
intact. Many involve little to no cooking,
so you won’t add a lot of heat to your
house and tax your AC even further.
Even though those with additions like
bacon, mayo and cheese are deﬁnitely
not diet food, they’re still “lighter” – at
least in feel – than a lot of other options.
And salads should no longer be seen

as only a side dish; some can hold their
own in the center of the plate and shine
as a main meal, especially if you embellish them with some extra protein like
grilled chicken or shrimp.
Finally, they’re incredibly versatile. You
can take any one of this month’s reader-submitted recipes for summer salads
and put your own spin on it by omitting
or adding ingredients without fear of
failure. Anything goes!

Build Your Own
While we got some tasty recipes from
our readers for this issue that we encourage you to try, you should also consider creating your own favorite summer
salad by building on your speciﬁc tastes.
By learning to combine different ﬂavors,
textures and colors, you can quickly and
easily come up with a wide variety of
salads. Here are a few basic “categories”
of things to include to get you started,
but there really are no rules.
• something crunchy, salty and/
or starchy (nuts, croutons, tortilla
chips, pasta or grains like farro or
quinoa)
• a protein (grilled meats, shrimp,
chopped boiled egg, cooked beans
like black, kidney or chickpeas)
• veggies (raw as well as cooked and
pickled items)
• fruit (fresh or dried)
• cheese
• dressing

Sometimes the size and shape of a salad ingredient can affect its taste.
Play around with different ways to cut and slice items.

Make a medium-sized pan of cornbread
in your favorite cast iron skillet. Allow to
cool for a few minutes. In a 13x9x2-inch
rectangular casserole dish, layer one-half
of the cornbread, tomatoes, onion, green
bell pepper, corn, chili beans, cheese,
ranch dressing, and a dash of granulated garlic or garlic salt. Repeat a second
layer with remaining ingredients and top
with crumbled bacon. This recipe is best
chilled overnight, but may be served after
chilling a couple of hours.
Cornbread salad prepared by Amelia Stephenson.
PHOTO BY MARK STEPHENSON

Please send us your original recipes, developed by you or family
members, and not ones copied from a book or magazine. You may
adapt a recipe from another source by changing as little as the
amount of one ingredient. Cook of the Month winners will receive
$50, and may win “Cook of the Month” only once per calendar year.

Online: alabamaliving.coop
Email: recipes@alabamaliving.coop
Mail: Recipes, P.O. Box 244014
Montgomery, AL 36124
Please include a phone number and co-op name with submissions!
Alabama Living reserves the right to reprint recipes in our other publications.

Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen-tested by a professional cook or registered
dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.

Our new AWARD WINNING cookbook
is a must-have addition to your kitchen!
In a recent nationwide competition, judges
awarded The Best of Alabama Living Cookbook
SECOND PLACE against entries from
cooperatives in dozens of industries.
Order your copy for $19.95 at alabamaliving.coop,
or send a check for $19.95 for each book ordered to:
Alabama Living Cookbook
P.O. Box 244014
Montgomery, AL 36124
Please provide the information below
and mail with your payment.
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________
City:________________________________ State: ________ Zip: _____________
Phone:
Alabama Living

n theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice,
they are not.”
This quote is attributed to Yogi Berra. I don’t know if
Yogi said it or not, but there is a lot of wisdom in it. Really big
plans or theories rarely turn out as planned. Practice is almost
always different from theory.
This is especially true when it comes to big government or
political plans. They are designed to do one thing, which they
may or may not do, but actually do many other things, usually
bad things that were not at all anticipated. The effect occurs often
enough that it has been given a name: the Law of Unintended
Consequences. Usually, the grander the plan the worse the unintended consequences.
The Kyoto Protocol and its dictated regulations are prime examples of the difference between theory and practice. In 1997, a
number of developed countries (not the U.S.) agreed to reduce
their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by an average of 8% over
15 years to limit the effects of global warming.
The ultimate impact on the earth’s warming resulting from the
European Union’s (EU) automotive emission reductions plan was
estimated by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the expert on all things relating to climate
change – to be less than 4/1000’s of a degree Celsius over the next
century (try to measure that).
To comply with Kyoto, the EU developed stringent limits on
CO2 emissions for passenger vehicles. The standards, driven by
the Kyoto standards, were much more heavily weighted toward
greenhouse emissions than other emissions. For example, the
EU’s CO2 emission levels are 15% lower than the U.S, but Nitrogen Oxides (NO2) levels are four times higher than the U.S., and
Particulate Matter (PM) levels are 22 times higher than the U.S.
Following the dictates of the EU’s political plan, automakers
developed a compliance strategy. Daimler and Volkswagen introduced a new design of Turbocharged Diesel Injection (TDI)
automobiles that had much quicker acceleration and efficiency.
The design was focused on CO2 emissions but not so much on
NO2 and PM emissions. To promote the plan to move passenger
vehicles from gasoline to diesel, EU politicians increased taxes on
gasoline and lowered taxes on diesel.
The plan has worked very well – at least to that measure. The
percentage of diesel vehicles in Europe has increased from less
than 20% in 1997 to more than 50% today. More than 70% of
BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen vehicles produced for the EU
market last year were diesel. Since diesel vehicles are slightly

more efficient than gasoline vehicles, they emit slightly less CO2.
The plan is working.
However, increased NO2 and PM emissions from the obviously dirtier diesel vehicles have significantly polluted Europe’s air.
Smog is now a major problem in European cities, much like it
was in U.S. cities before we lowered NO2 and PM emission limits
on vehicles. Some days Paris looks like Beijing with its smog and
haze. Scientists (you cannot deny science) now estimate that thousands of urban dwelling Europeans die annually from lung disease
directly resulting from the increased NO2 and PM emissions.
The results have become so disturbing that EU politicians have
switched strategies in favor of reducing diesel usage. They have
raised taxes on diesel fuels and, in areas, banned diesel vehicles
from populated urban areas. Great Britain is currently considering a “Cash for Polluters” plan to pay people to scrap their diesels
in favor of gasoline vehicles. I can hardly wait to see how that
theory works out.
The plan worked well for diesel car manufacturers for a while.
The EU emission regulations effectively functioned as an import
tariff favoring the diesel fuel efficiency of the European TDI vehicles. EU automobile manufacturers dominate the European
market.
However, it is not working so well in other ways. One finding
of the Volkswagen emission-cheating scandal is that the TDI vehicles miss the emission limitations on NO2 and PM by about
400%.
It is now obvious to anyone paying attention that the EU’s quest
for diesel was beautiful in theory but a disaster in practice. The
politicians now find it popular to vilify and punish the automobile manufacturers who were just following the politicians’ plans.
The politicians’ new plan is to impose large fines on the automobile manufacturers (the unintended consequence of which will
be that retail purchasers of automobiles will bear the bulk of the
financial burden) and to bribe and pressure consumers to buy
electric vehicles.
The real irony is that neither devotion to a green agenda nor
political competence have been questioned. Why are so many actions being taken in the name of climate change at such a tremendous cost with so little prospect of benefit and the large risks of
unintended consequences? The political answer is that the theory
was perfect -- the problem is with the idiots running the practice. Apparently the wisdom of Yogi-isms don’t apply to climate
change.
I hope you have a good month.

Gary Smith is President
and CEO of PowerSouth
Energy Cooperative

52 AUGUST 2017

www.alabamaliving.coop

| Market Place |

JC POLE BARNS

30x50x10 with sliding
door and man door.

8800

$

Additional delivery may apply pending location.

270.776.7869
www.jcpolebarns.com

STOP THROWING GOOD
MONEY AFTER BAD!
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reason so many of
our advertisers are still on our
pages, month after month, for
more than 40 years.
Year after year,
Alabama Living remains the
best value for your dollar.

Contact Jacob at advertising@areapower.com

ADVERTISE CONFIDENT

Alabama Living

AUGUST 2017 53

| Hardy Jackson's Alabama |

Illustration by Dennis Auth

Who remembers life before A/C?

T

he other day was the anniversary of the birth or death or something-or-other of Willis Carrier.
And who, pray tell, was Willis Carrier?
Why the inventor of air conditioning,
that’s who.
Down here in Dixie we should celebrate.
Our states should declare a holiday. We
should have a big cookout – and eat inside.
Why inside?
Because we have air conditioning.
Think about it.
Without Willis Carrier and his invention, our cities would be villages, our villages would be hovels, our people would
be lazy, lethargic, languid much of the year.
Factories would be sweat-shops (literally)
and the rate of heat-induced assaults and
murders would skyrocket.
We owe a lot to Willis Carrier.
For my part, I thank Willis Carrier for a
good night’s sleep.
Those of us of a certain age can recall
summers down south.
As children, we spent days in the sun and
shade, barefoot and (for the boys) shirtless,
getting that brownish-red pre-cancerous
glow that sends us to the dermatologist today. There were creeks and ponds for swimming, hoses for water fights, and all those
things we look back on with rose-tinted tenacity, convincing ourselves that the good

54 AUGUST 2017

old days were really good.
In this nostalgia, we often forget that
when night fell, we were inside where
the air was hot and heavy, where hardly a
breeze stirred, where even a fan (if you had
one) brought little relief.
Nights so hot that at bedtime you would
take ice cubes, wrap them in a wash rag,
and hold them to your cheek or chest in
the mistaken belief that if you could get one
part of your body cold the rest of you would
cool down enough to let you sleep.
What you got instead was a wet pillow or
wet sheets.
My first air conditioning experience was
at the movies, which became our summer
retreat from the heat. Then stores took it up.
Then churches. Some congregations had
to overcome the belief that heat was part
of God’s Plan and should be endured, not
overcome. Sitting hot through a sermon
was a test of faith.
But in time, congregations apparently
concluded that air conditioning was also
part of that same Plan and went along with
it.
Houses were the last to join the movement, but when they did, the window unit
became a status symbol not unlike the TV
antenna. If you had both, you had arrived.
The change air conditioning wrought
was most evident in Southern cities, where

instead of windows to raise and draw in a
breeze, new buildings included immovable
glass that reflected light and heat away from
what went on in the cool inside. It is hard to
imagine what Birmingham would look like
today, much less Mobile, if there was no air
conditioning.
But air conditioning has altered more
than architecture. It has changed the
rhythm of what has been called the “Southern way of life.” Folks stay sealed in their
climate controlled cocoons, rather than sit
on the porch or in the back yard in sweaty
splendor talking with neighbors and family.
It has been suggested that air conditioning has helped bring about the Americanization of Dixie. Surely it has.
Yet one wonders if air conditioning has
made modern Southerners more like other
Americans, or made them less like Southerners who came before?
On the other hand, we sleep better on hot
summer nights.
There is that.

wv

Harvey H. (“Hardy”)
Jackson is Professor
Emeritus of History
at Jacksonville State
University. He can be
reached at hjackson@
cableone.net.